Communication Studies 110 Sample Syllabus

Multicultural Communication

Course Description

CMST 110 (formerly Speech 110) is dedicated to pursuing the study of culture and how it shapes the communication process.  To this end, the course will focus on three units:
Unit I:  An Overview to Culture
Unit II:  Culture and the Self
Unit III:  Communicating Across Cultures

The course will pursue these units through the use of lecture, in-class activities and simulations, video footage, celebration of some selected cultural festivals, student presentations, and a field trip to the Washington State History Museum.

While we will use several specific cultural examples to illustrate our points, the key to the course is a broader understanding of the power of culture.

Unit I Objectives:  An Overview of Culture and Communication

The goal of this unit is to establish a basis for understanding how culture operates and in turn affects the communication process.  At the end of this unit, students who grasp the material presented in this section of the course should be able to do the following:

1. Define culture.
2. Explain the importance of cultural study.
3. Identify characteristics of collectivist and individualist cultures.
4. Identify characteristics of culture communication patterns (low or high context).
5. Identify phases of culture shock.
6. Define "world view."
7. Explain how cultural world views shape cultural value systems and priorities.
8. Explain how world views serve as predictors of cultural perceptions and actions.
9. Identify the basic tenets of Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, and Hinduism.

Unit II Objectives:  Culture and The Self

The goal of this unit is to explore the ways in which culture shapes our understanding of who we are and how we fit in.  At the end of the unit, students should be able to:

1. Explain cultural factors affecting the development of the self.
2. Identify various family structures.
3. Explain how culture influences family structure.
4. Define and identify co-cultures.
5. Understand how cultural rules define the appropriateness of the relationships we form.
6. Define exogamy and endogamy.
7. Understand and identify development issues.
8. Understand the origins of social and cultural identities.

Unit III Objectives:  How Cultures Interact With One Another

The goal of this unit is to explore how cultures cross boundaries through an exploration of differing viewpoints on language, nonverbals, business practice, health care, and education.  At the end of this unit, students should be able to do the following:

1. List the four rules of language.
2. List the four uses of language.
3. Define language.
4. Define argot.
5. Identify the factors that make up an argot.
6. Understand the factors which shape translation and interpretation issues.
7. Understand the difference between foreign language and argot.
8. Identify uses of nonverbal communication.
9. Identify the role of culture in determining nonverbal behavior.
10. Define proxemics.
11. Explain how the use of space and touch is culturally conditioned.
12. Define chronemics.
13. Explain how the use of time is culturally conditioned.
14. Identify factors regarding how business etiquette is culturally oriented.
15. Identify factors regarding cultural perceptions of health care.
16. Identify factors regarding cultural perceptions of education.

Assignments:

Unit I:  165 points

This is your group's opportunity to design a culture.  Your group will stick with this culture throughout the quarter and make a few informal reports to the class throughout the course.  The unit grade for this section occurs in three parts:
1. The world view presentation (50 points)
2. The unit test (100 points)
3. A variety of in-class activities (accumulation of 15 points)
a. Barnga,  b.  Coins,  and c.  Passover

Unit II:  200 points

This unit focuses on how we function as individuals inside of a culture and how the culture we associate with shapes the people we become.  The unit grade for this section occurs in four parts:
1. The field trip assignment (25 points)
2. The family traditions presentation (25 points)
3. The second test (100 points)
4. Group report (50 points)

Unit III:  110 points
This unit focuses on how we function when cultures interact in a variety of contexts including educational settings, health care, and business settings.  The unit grade for this section will occur in two parts:
1. In-class activities - language and nonverbal  (10 points total)
2. Story telling presentations (100 points)

The final exam will be comprehensive.

Grading Scale (not including the final exam):

Schedule of Events

Course Policies

Attendance:

Attendance and respectful participation in class is the way you can positively influence your grade.  Late arrival to class is a disruption to your classmates and your instructor.  Late arrival can be treated as an absence.  You are expected to be on time and to attend the complete class session.  Should you miss class, it is your personal responsibility to get notes or handouts from classmates or to see the instructor during office hours for handouts.  Your instructor will neither repeat lectures nor give you a private lecture.  Role will be taken either by roll sheet passed around class or by the instructor in some other fashion.  It is your responsibility to sign the sheet each day you attend.  Absences will hurt your grade at the end of the quarter.  More than 5 absences will result in your grade being lowered a complete level.

Late Work:

Papers:  All late papers are discounted 10% of the total points per paper per calendar day.  You are responsible for your work; part of that responsibility is managing your time well.  Doctor's appointments, advising appointments, computer breakdowns, printer collapses, etc., are not valid reasons for missing class or deadlines.  If you know you will be absent, hand in your work early.

Exams and Quizzes:  No provision will be made for make-up exams or quizzes.  Please do not ask for exceptions.

Oral and Group Presentations:  Oral presentations will be scheduled in advance and each student is expected to be ready to meet that schedule.  No make-ups.

Written Work:

Your assignment is to be submitted on time and should follow the standard rules for college compositions.  You may want to consult the current writing handbook used by the English Department.  While content is the most important part of any speech course writing assignment, errors in grammar or punctuation, poor organization of material, lack of support for details, and careless proofreading will make it difficult for your reader to follow your ideas and will reduce the grade based on the standards set forth in the TCC criteria for grading of papers.  If you are unsure about your writing skills, visit the Writing Center in Building 7.  It is a free service and the assistants are all experienced in English 101.  Always make a copy of your submitted work.

Withdrawals:  Students may withdraw from classes before the 50th calendar day of the quarter following the procedures set forth by the Registration Office.  See your class schedule for dates.

Incompletes:  Don't ask.  It is not in your best interest to request an incomplete.

Plagiarism and Cheating:

Plagiarism is defined as the conscious use of a source with the intent to deceive.  The source may be either a published piece of material or the work of another student.  All papers assigned are to be a student's own work.  All work must be cited.  Plagiarism is grounds for failing the course.  See the TCC Catalog for more details.

Cheating is defined as not doing your own work.  This includes behavior such as submitting the same or very similar written work as another student, copying another student's answers on a test, and bringing in inappropriate materials to an exam.  The consequences of cheating may range from failing an assignment to failing the course.

Students with Disabilities or Special Needs

Students requiring special accommodations due to disability must provide documentation to the college's disabilities specialist 6 weeks prior to attending TCC.  Requests for accommodations in this course must be presented in writing before the second week of the class.  The disabilities specialist will notify me of the adaptations for which the student is eligible.  The student and I will decide how to provide those accommodations and see that they are consistent with the American Disabilities Act and college policy.